Nun Who Defaced Silo Released From Prison

AP on Yahoo ^ | 12/22/05 | Matt Apuzzo - ap

[NormsRevenge]

DANBURY, Conn. - A pacifist nun convicted of defacing a Colorado missile silo in 2002 was released Thursday from federal prison.

Ardeth Platte, 69, was not due to be released until May 31, but a judge gave her credit for time already served, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Platte, along with sisters Jackie Hudson and Carol Gilbert, were arrested in October 2002 after they allegedly cut a chain link fence surrounding a Minuteman III missile silo in northern Colorado. The nuns then used baby bottles to dispense their own blood in the shape of a cross on the silo.

Air Force security quickly left training exercises to respond, arriving at the site in several armored vehicles. The three nuns, who appeared to be praying and singing, announced they were peaceful and surrendered, according to court documents.

Hudson, Gilbert and Platte were convicted on charges of obstructing national defense and damaging government property. They received prison sentences of 30 months, 33 months and 41 months respectively. Hudson and Gilbert have been released.

The nuns are members of the Dominican Sisters order in Grand Rapids, Mich. They said their protest was a symbolic disarmament, prompted by an imminent war with Iraq because the United States has never disavowed nuclear weapons.

[NormsRevenge]

They said their protest was a symbolic disarmament, prompted by an imminent war with Iraq because the United States has never disavowed nuclear weapons.

---

These nuns are damn lucky they didn't try symbolically protesting for disarmament in Russia or China.

[fredhead]

I saw the word silo and remembered one of my Grandpa's old jokes...

"A man died in that silo. He went in there looking for a corner to pee in."

[tfecw]

"...after they allegedly cut a chain link fence..."

So if they were convicted, why is allegedly still being used?

[CLRGuy]

So if they were convicted, why is allegedly still being used?

Innocent until the media decides otherwise?

[BW2221]

As nutty (and far left) as most nuns are today, we should be happy that dedicated lay Catholics are running most Catholic elementary and high schools.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Prison will certainly not deter these elderly pacifist nuns. But I do think the idea of going to Iraq should be broached with them. Seriously, no sarcasm intended. They probably have years and years of experience running girls' schools, and Iraq would be just the place to do it.

They probably have the courage for it. And they might just do some good.

[tfecw]

"They probably have the courage for it. And they might just do some good."

I doubt that. We have things to take care of right here in America. These nuns can't be troubled with that sort of thing because it doesn't involve furthering their agenda.

[anniegetyourgun]

We'll have nun of that here.....

[DesignerChick]

My thoughts, too.
Try protesting you "Christian pacifism" in Indonesia, or China or Cuba, or Egypt, or Syria, or Oman, or etc.....

[tracer]

They should begin working in the their convent's clothing production center -- it's rather habit-forming, I hear tell....

[Froufrou]

Habit-forming? We'll have nun of that here?

ROTFLMAO! Seriously, what part of vandalism and criminal trespass did these women not get? :o/

[Prime Choice]

So if they were convicted, why is allegedly still being used?

It's the old Leftist media "innocent until proven Republican" rule. Then you're the bastard son of Cain himself.

[wbill]

They probably have the courage for it. And they might just do some good.

I would hope that they'd take up the challenge. But, my experience with most 'symbolic protesters' like these is that they don't *really* want results. They just like the idea of protesting and the togetherness and inclusiveness that it brings. They must know that foreign policy won't turn on the wants and wishes of three people, but they still protest anyway.

They remind me of dogs chasing cars. What would they do if they actually caught one?

[A.A. Cunningham]

They probably have years and years of experience running girls' schools, and Iraq would be just the place to do it.

These three dimwits have a lot of experience vandalizing military installations and protesting, not running parochial schools. al-Zarqawi might be interested in hiring them though.

'Gilbert said she began protesting nuclear disarmament in the late 1970s.

Platte said she has been a protester since the Vietnam War and became active in the fight for nuclear disarmament in the 1980s, when Michigan was storing nuclear weapons.

Both nuns have been jailed for protesting many times. "I don't know how many times I've been arrested," Platte said. "It's been ongoing since the 1980s."'

Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares

The fact is that the three nuns, two of whom were based at the late Philip Berrigan's Jonah House in Baltimore, are radical leftists who identify America as the source of many of the world's woes. Their litany of complaints, as presented in pre-sentencing statements, included "U.S. interventionism," America's "murderous conduct in Afghanistan and Iraq," arms sales, the "warehousing" of the poor in jails, legislation against the homeless and the Patriot Act. One sister modestly contrasted their own behavior with that of Germans who failed to block trains carrying victims of the Nazis.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Yeah, if they've been specializing in symbolic protests for 35 years, I do wonder whether they spent any time in the historic mission of the Dominicans, which was--- WAS! --- teaching Christian doctrine.

But they'd probably like the feminist angle of teaching girls in Basra or Mosul or Tikrit, plus the exotic angle of being in a non-Western Third World country (conscience-tourism is usually pretty popular with this set), plus the exiting prospect of coming back to the USA with videos and Native Tchotchkes and suchlike.

Maybe we can draft them and SEND them to an Iraqi girls' school? Think, Catholics, think! What're we going to do with these old gray-feathered peace birds?

I must admit that over the years I've some nuns like this very well, and --- sigh --- they keep going through the same old ritualistic gestures (bang bang Sister's Silver Hammer)as if compulsively, long after all the meaning has drained out. So for their own good I'd like to get their energy channeled into something constructive...

[Tax-chick]

So for their own good I'd like to get their energy channeled into something constructive...

That's a nice thought! I hope to be a Batty Old Lady myself one of these days ... maybe I'll open a school in Iraq with my son who wants to be a martyr :-).

Seriously, it is a real waste of potential. We have a very elderly nun in our parish who's pretty leftist, but she had over 40 years of teaching experience in very tough conditions, and is firmly behind traditional education and discipline for children. She's not in good enough health for "mission schools," but I'm sure there are others who would be.

[nutmeg]

Connecticut ping!

Please Freepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent Connecticut ping list.

[solitas]

Air Force security quickly left training exercises to respond, arriving at the site in several armored vehicles. The three nuns, who appeared to be praying and singing, announced they were peaceful and surrendered, according to court documents.

Why couldn't they have been shot, plowed-under, the fence fixed, and the whole incident "Area 51'ed" (i.e. "what people? we never saw no people.")?